Characteristics attributed to individuals on the basis of their first names

Characteristics connoted by first names were explored in 7 studies. Four fa ctors were identified: Ethical Caring. Popular Fun, Successful, and Masculi ne-Feminine(Study 1, N = 165). Men's names connoted more masculine characte ristics, less ethical caring, and more successful characteristics than did women's names (Study 2, N = 274). Nicknames connoted less successful charac teristics. more popular fun, and less ethical caring characteristics than d id given names (Study 3, N = 289). Androgynous names connoted more popular fun and less masculine characteristics for men and more popular fun, less e thical caring, and more masculine characteristics for women than did gender -specific names (Study 4. N = 378). Less conventionally spelled names conno ted uni formly less attractive characteristics (Study 5, N = 145). For men only, longer names connoted more ethical caring, less popular fun, more suc cessful, and less masculine characteristics (Study 6, N = 620). More anxiet y and neuroticism were attributed to those with less common names and more exuberance was attributed to those with more attractive names (Study 7, N = 137).